Improving Your Home

There are a number of areas in your home that you might need to cast a critical eye over before putting your house on the market. Many buyers are put off by a property that they feel would need a lot of time and money spending on it after they move in.

The major areas to review are:

Doors

Touch up or repaint shabby woodwork and replace cheap door handles

Floors

Carpets should be in neutral colors and in good condition; replace any that are worn, stained or have an off-putting color or pattern
Polished wooden floors are a good selling point
Consider replacing carpets with seagrass matting as a good inexpensive floor covering
Ceramic tiles, marble and stone are excellent for kitchens and bathrooms

Lighting

Installing a high-tech lighting system in an up-market property usually adds value and may secure a sale
Subtle lighting can be used to highlight the finest points of a room and hide flaws

Walls and Ceilings

Paint in neutral colors such as white or cream
Avoid putting up expensive designer wallpaper - it makes a very personal design statement, and won't add value

Windows

Make sure windows are sparkling clean and not blocked by furniture or clutter
Repaint wooden frames if needed
Consider removing drapes and fitting plain blinds to maximize the light, although conversely, good drapes can highlight a beautiful window